Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-01
DEBIT AND CREDIT.

There were NO two ways about II
Cashier Butler must leave the bank tenn
porarily for long vacation, II he did not
wish to leave IL permanently for another
world. Hard work and no play having
wrought their inevitable effects, tired
brain and fagged-out body imperatively
called for rest. SO Re was to have q years
leave Of absence, and on the arst day OF
)hext quarter would begin doing what he
had never done before in his hfe-n0th-
ing.
Who was to take his places That ques-
ton exercised the minds of all who were
concerned, and of = good many who
weren't, but particularly interested Net
tie. Nettie was Mr.. Buffers daughter,
and as good and intelligent as she was
pretty, which is saying q great deal
since everybody acknowledged her to be
adorably pretty-but still no more than
the truth. Brunette, with eyes like black
diamonds, and cheeks like the golden
brown side of fall apple; with mouth
fhak you ardently wanted to kiss until
you perceived from the decided cut of
her dips that you had better not try; with
nose which began very demurely as the
Gtaid6st of Grecians, and ended with an
unexpected and enchanting little twist at
the tip--in short, . darling; such was
Nettie. For two years she had been her
fathers assistant in the Baalbec First Ma
tional bank-ever since she left school, in
fact From dropping in of odd afternoons
to tighten his work, when business was
unusually pressing, she had come to
spending her whole day with him; and
when he was allowed clerk, who more
suitable than shei It was an excellent
plsn. Her father liked it, because he
her qualifications for the position; Nettie
rendered herself Independent at the same
time; and the bank oflcers liked it, be-
cause they paid her not quite half what
Q man would have received for the same
work. Thus all parties were pleased.
Avast number Of things she learned in
the First National To see her with her
bright, pleasant face irradiated by smile
which lit up that temple Of Plutus like
rise in the rate Of interest, you would
never have taken her for the shrewd lit
tie financier she really was. She acquired
Arst the ability to separate her work
from her sympathies, and put womanly
likes and dislikes entirely out of the ques-
tion. She knew that, from business
point Of view, Peter Coupon-thin, sal
low, impolite, and "just horrid"-was, as
he ought to be regarded by cashier,
perfect Prince Charming, always to be
given whatever he asked in the way Of 40
commodation, while Charley Poor, as
handsome as . picture, must be consid-
ered veritable Beast, because Peter had
collateral and Charley none. She learned
that Smith might renew his notes till
doomsday If he chose. being the seventh
directors cousin, but that Jones was to be
refused discounts under all circum-
stances. because he had voted against the
president at town meeting. She was per-
fectly aware of the impending bankruptcy
OF Robinson, who was supposed absolutely
safe, and had recently donated" the fire
company . sumptuous electro plated
trumpet She was equally well informed
- to the high probability that Brown,
uJdversally thought almost q pauper,
would eventually make q neat thing out
those western lands Of his; and, most
wonderful Of all, she never lisped single
word Of these interesting secrets.
This being the state Of the case, 1t Is not
surprising, in the midst of the specula-
lions about Mr.. Buffers successor, when
name after name was suggested and re-
5ected, and 1t began to be apparent that
obtaining . new competent cashier was not
20 easy - It might be, that the question
1hoRA suddenly occur to Nettie, "why
1dn't 1t be II" For . moment her
th was fairly taken away, but whom
cams back she Immediately made &C
I've use Of 1t in broaching the idea to her
Rather, who, much to her surprise, took it
40 coolly that she began to suspect he had
been thinking Of 1t himself. However
that may be, he saw President Parr that
very day, and made q proposition to
opk
hawed and consulted the directors, who
likewise hummed and hawed. They
thought the scheme most novel and revo-
lutionary, and yet they could bring up no
argument against it, except that such q
thing had never been heard of before.
4Time it was, then," said Mr.. Butler,
who, ~ an efficient officer and a stock
holder besides, could say what he pleased.
@But a lady bank cashierl" demonstrated
director.
"Why not, If she knows her businessi"
Why not, indeedi There was certainly
NO reason.
aThen," went on Mr.. Butler, II can look
IN and advise her If she nee ds it-which
she won't--and there are you gentlemen
to supervise. Besides, If you don't take
her, whom can you get~
The onlcess felt the force of these argu.
ments, and were still more Influenced by
motives Of economy; and it all resulted in
the choice Of Miss Celtic p. Butler a. act
ing cashier, At q salary that, even added
to her fathers half-pay, saved sundry dol
tUs toward dividends, and in the employ
mont Of . bright (and cheap youth as as
leistant. Then, the quarter being at an
end, Mr.. Butler turned his attention from
anAnce to flowers, and began vigorously
bultivating Bonstettins and "Jacks;" at
the same time Nettie was solemnly notified
4 her election, more solemnly inducted
hto Office, and most solemnly given an in
mite quantity of instruction regarding
her duties (by the president, who didn't
know half 30 much about them a. she did,
md on q memorable Monday morning
look her place behind the shining black
Falnut counter of the Baalbec First Ne
pnal
Of course people wondered and criticised
they always debut Nettie paid no at
ltion to them and great deal to busi-
e9s, in. consequence of which she sue
peded 80 admirably that the whole board
seven directors were unable to find q
listake in her footings, although for the
Est week or two they collectively and
iividually moused them over as Il
py suspected a defalcation. But
py couldn't have for none had taken
zee, and 1t is notorious that directors
r. examine footings until the institu-
they direct has completely lost tts
=. So after q while the directors re-
ned their previous occupation of talk